Three in ten first-time buyers in England now pay stamp duty, Connells analysis shows

Connells analysis shows 30% of first-time buyers in England now purchase above the £300,000 nil-rate band, against just 10% buying above the previous threshold in early 2025, before the bands changed that April. Lower thresholds pull more purchases into tax, with average bills of £4,440 in the East of England and £5,130 in the South East. For buyers, that is an extra upfront cost beyond the deposit; for sellers near £500,000, the cliff edge is increasingly shaping offers. This reflects the existing regime, not a new tax change.